Orr beats Farragut in Public League Playoffs

Orr beats Farragut in Public League Playoffs

By Patrick McGavin
YourSeason.com
DeVante Jones practices the shot all the time. We practice shooting, and we try to get a thousand shots up every day, the Orr senior guard said.Jones drilled a game-breaking three-pointer from the left wing with just over three minutes remaining that powered the host No. 9 Spartans past No. 22 Farragut 54-43 in a second-round Public League Playoff showdown Friday afternoon.Seconds after Farragut star Rashaun Stimage missed the front end of a one and one, Jones caught the ball on the break and fired in the 20-footer for a 48-43 Orr lead. In the third quarter, he hit a three-pointer from an identical location.Orr scored the games final eight points.I had a lot of faith and desire that the shot was going to go in, Jones said. Jones and senior guard Deshawn King combined for five three-pointers in the second half that erased a 27-24 Farragut halftime lead.Jones and King scored 13 points apiece for the Spartans (18-3), who advance against in Sundays quarterfinals against the winner of the ForemanLane game at Chicago State.With Jamal McDowell, the Orr guards also shut down Farraguts own perimeter attack. Senior Farragut guard John Carter hit three three-pointers and scored 13 points n the first half as the Admirals led by as many as eight points (27-19) in the first half.Carter was held scoreless and Farragut guard Lavell Boyd was limited to just five points. We take a lot of pride and competition in our defense, Jones said. We play the right defense, getting into our stances and getting the right position.We feel like we can shut down any backcourt in the state.With the Spartans up 39-37 to start the fourth quarter, King converted a rare four-point play. During an odd stretch, both teams combined to miss 12 consecutive free throws. Farragut went 0 of 10 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. It shot just 1 of 12 for the game. Orr was finished 10 of 21. After committing just seven turnovers through the first three quarters, Farragut turned it over five times in the final quarter.Senior Deonte Terrell, who scored 10 points, scored on a drive and was fouled with 3:21 that cut the Orr lead to 45-43. The Admirals never scored again. The repeated missed free throws and inability to score meant the Admirals could never apply their press. Thats the craziest thing Ive ever seen, Farragut coach William Nelson said. If we make our free throws, we win the game. Orr missed a lot of free throws, too, but they made some. Everybody missed.Stimage nearly recorded a triple-double by scoring 13 points, blocking 11 shots and grabbing nine rebounds. His counterpart, Orr 6-7 junior Marquise Pryor, scored eight of his 12 points in the second half. He added 10 rebounds.The Orr guards were the story. Orr never had a name in basketball before, and were trying to change that, King said.

Blackhawks edge out Senators in shootout: 'It was really nice to get a win'

AP

Blackhawks edge out Senators in shootout: 'It was really nice to get a win'

It was a rare sight to see the Blackhawks in a shootout on Wednesday night.

It was just the second time this season — and first time at the United Center — that the Blackhawks made it past 3-on-3 overtime.

The last came on Dec. 2, 2017, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Stars in Dallas. On Wednesday night, the Blackhawks were on the other end, beating the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in a seven-round shootout. Nick Schmaltz netted the game-winner.

"We'll take it," coach Joel Quenneville said. "I thought we had a decent game tonight. Overtime not so good, I liked the shootout victory, Fors made some big saves for us particularly as the game got deeper. Our third was OK, I thought our first two were way better, and overtime we gave up some high quality, some bells were rings for a bit there. But it was nice to see the shootout win."

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, recording another multi-point game, his 16th of the season.

"I mean we need every point we can get at this point," Kane said. "There's still belief in this locker room. Obviously we need to go on quite a run and have a big record here down the stretch. But take it a game at a time and nice to get two points."

Anton Forsberg was a big reason the Blackhawks even recorded those two points. The 25-year-old netminder stopped 34 of 36 shots and made a handful of big saves down the stretch.

"It was really nice to get a win for sure," Forsberg said. "I would love to have a lot more wins, but right now just gotta look forward and get as many wins as possible."

Added Quenneville: "I think it was good for him to win a game the way he did. Lot of shots were on the line, as we progressed, got deeper, hitting the point first was big for him and for us and then finding a way to get the extra one was a good win."